The diploma thesis presents a comparison of elections in relation to the powers of the president of the republic in the case of two countries: Slovenia and Croatia.
By and large, the office of the president of the republic in Slovenia and Croatia is very similar. One of the reasons for this is that both countries have introduced the parliamentary system. It was introduced in Slovenia on 23 December 1991, and in Croatia in November 2000. In Slovenia, the president is elected in direct, general and secret elections, and can hold this office for five years. The president's powers include calling elections to the National Assembly, promulgating laws, appointing state officials, awarding decorations, etc. The president of the Republic of Croatia is likewise elected in direct, general and secret elections for a term of five years. The president's powers are similar to those of the Slovenian president, namely calling elections to the Croatian Parliament, granting pardons, awarding decorations and recognitions, acting as the commander-in-chief of the defence forces, etc.
We used the descriptive and qualitative research method, the comparative method, and the case study method in the diploma thesis. Both Constitutions, the Slovenian and Croatian alike, were analysed in order to research the powers and elections of the president of the republic.
It has been established that the powers of the president of the republic are relatively weak in Slovenia and Croatia alike, since the government has greater authority in both countries as the wielder of executive power. Moreover, it has been determined that the powers and the social or political influence of the president of the republic does not always depend solely on the regulations governing the president's powers but also on the political influence, reputation, and authority of the person holding this office.
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